The Hornets will argue the decision was made because of plans to open a state-of-the-art medical centre with a permanent doctor, according to The Times.

After Collinge’s departure, Mazzarri, who left Watford at the end of last season, insisted the sacking was entirely down to the club and not him. “I had nothing to do with this decision. I couldn’t have influenced it.”

Collinge was head physio at Watford from 2002 to 2011, before being appointed Head of Fitness at Cardiff and Head of Medical at Wigan. He returned to Watford in February 2015.